Pam Pugsley, who is a former Stayton Friends of the Library president and the group’s current vice president, recalls some precarious moments when she tells stories about the library’s recently replaced manual reader board.

Pugsley and other library advocates who used to change the messages are “tickled” to have the new electronic reader board up and running.

“At one time, I remember I stood on a ladder that sat in the back of a pickup and was leaning against the sign, and I still had trouble getting the letters on the board,” Pugsley related. “Ken Cartwright said there is a photo of me doing that somewhere…but please don’t look for it.”

She and fellow retiree Carol Tabor have both related stories about the toils of that task, and how the letters were getting brittle and tougher to apply.

Raising funds to buy the new electronic reader board provided a few hurdles as well, a three-year, roughly $20,000 endeavor. But the difficulties with those tasks pale when memories of changing the old board surface.

Now the messages – many messages at a time – can be entered via a computer in the library.

“We are excited,” said Stayton Library Director Janna Moser. “It’s a project the Friends of the Library has been working on for a long time.”

Moser said the electronic board can sport up to 50 messages at once, though she hasn’t tested that yet. On Wednesday, Jan. 24, there were just a few messages including a local school’s “Casino Night” fundraiser, the Library’s “Brews, Bites & Books” fundraiser and a “thank you” to those who spirited the new tool.

Pugsley said like many projects, initial estimates cited one cost, and that cost increased with a few hurdles. So the community support was a crucial element. Now hopes are that all area nonprofits can benefit by getting messages up in lights on the busiest street in town.

“The new reader board will allow a new message every 8 seconds,” Moser said, noting that Stayton Friends of the Library raised $17,821 of the needed funding through “generous help of the community.”

The group also covered additional electrical upgrades necessary to its installation.

Moser and her staff plan to provide an informational presentation for the Stayton City Council during its Monday, Feb. 5, meeting.

“We are tickled to have it,” Pugsley said. “It will be a good thing for the whole community, not just for the library.”

Folk-music reminder

Across the creek and barely a stone’s throw from the library’s brand-new electronic reader board is one of the oldest icons in Stayton, the Charles and Martha Brown House.

While enjoying a cup of coffee at Moxieberry in downtown Stayton on Wednesday, Jim Nokes related a story about setting up a modest, inexpensive stereo some years back on the first floor of the Brown House. He said that simple unit resonated beautifully-balanced sound throughout the house, even in the upstairs bedroom farthest from the sound source.

He explained the pitch-perfect acoustics – something Santiam Heritage Foundation President Wendy Stone has heard from musicians who have performed there – is a result of the old, dry, wooden walls of the historic house, equating the phenomenon to the violin maker Andrea Amati’s selective process of choosing the perfect wood for his instruments.

Nokes' story also serves as a reminder that the newly dubbed “Brown House Event Center” is hosting a musical event this weekend.

Emceed by area artist and storyteller Paul Toews, the “Oregon Pioneer Spirit Folk Music Play-In,” hosted in conjunction with Salem For All, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at the facility, 425 N. First Ave., Stayton.

The free event has scheduled a variety of performers with a pioneer theme, including folk musician Maria Bulkow; guitarist Peter Brugiel who will perform old Oregon Trail songs; Sara Whitener who will be accompanied by two flutists from Leslie Middle School as they perform early pioneer folk songs; fiddler Truman Price, an Oregon Trail era music aficionado; and Steve Yance.

The Gates chapter will serve individuals and families in the Santiam Canyon School District “catchment area.”

Benjamin said initial funding of $3,500 for the second Service Integration Team was provided by Santiam Hospital and Willamette Valley Community Health, which will sponsor a total of $15,000 for Santiam Service Integration in 2018.

“The Service Integration Team is still in the process of reaching out to potential partners in the Santiam Canyon District,” Benjamin noted.

“In the short amount of time since the Stayton Sublimity Service Integration Team began, it has helped many families in the North Santiam School District Catchment Area by connecting agencies to help better serve individuals and families within the community.”

Chamber Awards

Carmelle Bielenberg announced that the Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce will honor its 2017 award winners during the 72nd Annual Chamber Awards Luncheon, which carries the theme of “A Place to Bloom.”

Bielenberg said the event will honor Freres Lumber (Large Business of the Year), Lucky Dog Design (Small Business of the Year), Nicole Miller of Words Out PR (Young Professional of the Year), Stayton Flowers (First Impressions - exterior improvements/enhancements), and Tass Morrison (Distinguished Service Award), and the 2018 Future First Citizens from Stayton and Regis high schools.

Tickets are $22 each or parties can purchase an entire table of 8 for $150. For information, contact Bielenberg at (503) 769-3464, info@staytonsublimitychamber.org.